The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Recently, a call was put out to all self-proclaimed sports whizzes to join our panel of experts. The response has been good so far, but I anticipate that our group of gurus will continue to grow as more people hear about it. In the initial invitation, I asked a series of point/counterpoint questions. Here are some of the responses: NHL players or owners? Everyone sided with the owners, although most agreed that it is initially their fault that players make too much money in the first place. SJHL playoffs, 8 teams or 10? This one was split. On one hand, 10 teams allows more teams to make money in the playoffs. On the other, having only eight teams makes the regular season worth playing. Tie games - shootout or no shootout? Again a split. I thought the goalies on the panel would be against the shootout, but even they couldn't agree. "I hate tie games. I think it is a waste of time to play a game and not determine a winner." - Jason M. Goalies outside the crease - fair game or protected? Again, a split, and again, the goalies were divided. "There is a reason for the crease, and that is to protect the goalie in that area. Why should they have free run of the ice?" - Jeff K. "The goalies should be protected. They are too hard to replace." - Jason M. Fighting allowed or banned? No one thought that fights should be outlawed, and I can't say that comes as a shocker. The Whitney Forum explodes during a good scrap, and I doubt you could find an arena in Canada where a good tilt isn't appreciated. "Fighting is a part of the game." Tom T. Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky? Wayne got 75% of the vote on this one, but Mario got bonus marks for overcoming cancer, back surgery, and some awful Pittsburgh teams. "Wayne makes everyone around him great." - Jeff K. Dominic Hasek or Patrick Roy? Unanimously in favour of Roy. "Hasek was a three or four year fluke." - Steve M. "You're kidding me, right? Patrick Roy is most definitely the better goalie." - Jeff K. Keith Spencer or Donovan Hall? Apparently it doesn't matter anymore, as neither of them want to play in Flin Flon. Oilers or Flames? Most people went with the Oilers, although it is hard not to like the Calgary Flames' run at the Stanley Cup last season. "The Flames are a one-hit wonder. At least the Oilers always suck and lose to Dallas." - Jason M. Roughriders or Blue Bombers? The edge in this one went to the Roughriders, with a vote thrown in for Hamilton. CFL or NFL? People had a tough time choosing between the CFL and NFL. They like the game that the CFL has to offer, but think that the NFL is has better athletes and is more exciting. Personally, they can keep their No Fun League south of the border, and I'll watch all the touchdown celebrations I can handle in the CFL. Yankees or Red Sox? I think this response speaks for everyone - "Anybody but the Yankees . . ." Tom T. "I personally like the Astros, but of the two I will cheer for Boston over the evil empire any day." - Steve M. Last week, I asked the panel about the Grey Cup match up between the B.C. Lions and the Toronto Argos. The panel went with B.C., but I like Mike Clemons and I think he will be able to coach his team over the Lions. Each week I send an e-mail to the members of the Sports Experts panel, and print some of the responses later in the week. If you would like to be a member of the panel, please send me an e-mail at [email protected].
